FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 16, 2009

OVERLAND PARK, KAN…The crop insurance industry presented a check for over $2,500 to the Hidden Harvest charity located in the Coachella Valley in southern California. The money was raised during the crop insurance industry’s annual convention in February.

(Left to right) Randy Tronnes, Rural Community Insurance Services, Chairman of the NCIS Board of Directors; Christy Porter, Hidden Harvest; Bob Parkerson, President of National Crop Insurance Services; and, Sherri Scharff, National Crop Insurance Services.

“We were very pleased with the generosity of the members of our association to give to such a great organization,” said Bob Parkerson, president of National Crop Insurance Services, one of the trade associations co-sponsoring the annual convention. “It was the first year we have done something like this during our event, but I think it’s definitely something we’ll continue to do in the future.”

Hidden Harvest’s mission is to glean or “rescue” produce from Coachella Valley fields and packing houses. The Valley is one of the largest agricultural regions in the nation yet few people realize that millions of pounds of nutritious, locally-grown produce are left behind after the harvest is complete.

Hidden Harvest is the only organization in the country that pays low-income, experienced farm workers to glean fields. The food is given to more than 60 agencies that serve the poor. In addition, Hidden Harvest educates the media and public about hunger and nutrition issues, provides cooking classes so people learn how to prepare the food they are given, and run a non-perishable food bank serving an average of 1,200 families a month.

“We can’t thank you enough for your generous contribution,” said Christy Porter, founder and director of Hidden Harvest, told the attendees at the annual convention. “This will go such a long way in continuing the work we do at Hidden Harvest and helping the people of the Coachella Valley.”

Crop insurance helps make America’s farmers and ranchers world leaders in agriculture, allowing producers to stay competitive and be more innovative. Sixteen private crop insurance companies provide this important risk management tool to agricultural producers throughout the United States and abroad.